Been a bit since I’ve been here. My blog has kinda become the red-headed stepchild of my life. I am torn between devoting more time to it or simply cutting back to a few posts a year. But I thought I would rear my head here today and share my giddiness about my latest trip.

It’s coming on two weeks now since returning from my London visit and I’m still on a high about it. My first solo trip overseas since I was a teen (many years ago!). And it was great. I realized I am just as intrigued with London as I was the first time. As I walked down the street from my hotel, the Fall leaves crunching under my feet, I felt an easy excitement of being where I belonged. This is similar to how I feel about NYC. London is such a mecca of cultures, style and beauty. It is definitely a world unto itself.

My sole goal was to immerse myself in the surroundings and to photograph whatever I gravitated towards. True to my nature, I planned out an itinerary for each day, but only listed areas, not specific places. This allowed me the freedom to venture out and simply explore those areas.

London is such a vibrant city, full of life. The city just oozes a cool energy and vibe, it’s hard not to feel there is a bit more swagger in your step by simply being there. This time around, I got to delve more into Camden Town and Shoreditch. Both places are teeming with street art and vintage fashions. Some of my fave things.

Leeke Street Tunnel was on the top of my list to check out. I’d seen lots of photos of the tunnel on the web, but my first sighting of the place still sent my heart a flutter. I love to see graffiti splattered walls! And I don’t mean crude tagging and profanity laced images, I mean art….with spray paint. The colors always fill me with joy and Leeke Street did not disappoint. In fact, the only thing that did disappoint me was that the tunnel wasn’t long enough!

I also did a day trip to Liverpool. This day wasn’t really about photography, it was more about discovering the place where my beloved Beatles came from. I saw the places they grew up, the infamous Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields and got to hear some music in The Cavern Club, where the magic began. Just being there brought tears to my eyes.

A visit to Highgate Cemetery, which I wanted to see on the last trip, became a reality this time around. A place of such eerie beauty. Old tombstones, many leaning and askew and covered in ivy, created a darkly romantic scene. I could think of no better way to usher in the month of October.

So much to see and photograph in London, it was almost overwhelming, just being in the middle of it all. Sometimes, I had to put the camera away and let myself absorb it with all my senses. Five days was hardly enough to take everything in. Which most likely means, another trip will be planned soon!…

I’m short on time today, I’ve got another trip to get ready for….Philly here I come! But I wanted to share some techniques I’ve been playing around with lately. Color blocking. I’ve always been attracted to vibrant colors and I love to add my own interpretations of wild hues.

Take a look at these series of images from Rocky Mountain National Park with my take on color blocking. Landscapes are not my typical subject matter, so I was attracted to the idea of adding my flair for color and seeing them transform into something that compliments my imagery style. I hope you enjoy them!

Grey Peak / Sonja Quintero / Squint Photography

Orange Peak / Sonja Quintero/ Squint Photography

Rocky Vibrant / Sonja Quintero / Squint Photography

Triangle Peak / Sonja Quintero / Squint Photography

Let me know what new styles or techniques you are working on. Anything new?

To see more of my work and what I do go to my site. Also check out my Etsy shop.

I am all about color. I’ve never shied away from it. In fact, I gravitate towards it. There is an energy and fullness of life that is fueled in me by vibrant hues. Colors penetrate many areas of my life, not only in my photography. I love brightly hued blouses, colorful pillows and saturated paintings. For me, colors are the spice of life.

So, you can understand my frustration when back in 2010, when I started to post my photos online, I noticed, as with many forms of art and design, a lot of the popular work was represented in vintage tones and washed out pastels. Now, why I do find a lot of this work charming, it doesn’t create an excitement in me. It doesn’t make my heart go pitter-patter. It feels safe. And for me, photography, should do more than just be “pretty”. It should put a smile on my face and then make me think. It should make my spirit soar and it should make a statement: Look at me, I’ve got something to say!

I’ve often struggled with finding a place for my work, finding the best fit, going against the grain. My photographs instantly seemed to stand out and defy what was popular. I’ve tried my hand at a softer touch, for more subtlety. I’ve done this both successfully, and many times not so successfully. Ultimately, I keep coming back to what draws me in – pure, saturated color.

Nowadays in my work, I’ve decided to go unapologetically into my embrace of bright pigments. It’s become my thing, I guess. In recent years, I’ve begun to see a shift in photography, away from much of the vintage filters and a movement towards intense uses of color. And that excites me very much!

So, today I’d like to share with you some awesome images that celebrate the use of color. These are some of my fave photographers lately, who go bold with their tones. They unabashedly fill their images with bright lights and vibrant subjects.

Az Jackson is an award winning photographer who creates vibrant cityscapes and landscapes that excite the senses. ‘Color of Manhattan’ is one of my favorites. A very cool perspective and the colors practically leap out at you.

Colorful, minimalist photography is Tom Windeknecht’s signature style. His photos make my heart happy. Minimalism and color together?…who could ask for more! He is also a wonderful Instagram content creator.

The Wonder Wheel at Coney Island has been photographed countless times. Photographer Susan Candelarios’ rendition is definitely one of my faves. I adore the crisp, sharp colors and yummy blurriness of the whirling ride.